So Ive been on this fun journey of couponing and learning to stretch my dollar any which way I can. Last week i took my husband shopping with me to Albertson's, and Fry's. All he could say was WOW! We save $300 between sales, and coupons, and we got stuff we wanted and needed. Every week I'm slowly adding to a small stockpile of necessities we all use and working to keep us from paying full retail.
There is a world of info out there at your fingertips, and I didn't think it was possible to coupon & price match and eat healthy at the same time. But it is! I get great quality food you all get and pay a fraction of the cost. In this economic crisis its a crime to pay full price. The companies are "giving" these coupons to use, and its up to us to be smart about it all!
As many of you may have figured out I prefer the healthier choices in food, and these tend to be pricier, but even in my pantry I can save money So I can afford the luxuries I have to have (Coconut oil, Coconut flour, Organic Brown Eggs, etc.) Now many of you may think its frivolous to spend $$ on these expensive food items, but I believe paying for your health here and now, and not later in medical bills, and other onset issues. But this is in fact my opinion and I believe that weather your pinching pennies, on food stamps, elderly, or have all the $$ in the world your health is important, but I will not judge you either way by the food you give your family!
I hope many of you out there get the opportunity to coupon and experience the exhilaration i get from saving my family $. There are still many things I don't buy just because I have a coupon. But in my savings I can breathe easier knowing I'm doing my part staying prepared.
Have a great night Everyone.
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
The Joy's of Motherhood
Like most stay at home mother's my days have been hectic. A mother's job is never done. Some may think that mother's who stay at home with their children have so much time on their hands, but it's the exact opposite. I feel as if there is not enough hours in the day to accomplish everything that needs to be done. It's as if I am the Administrative Assistant of my home. I have all of the little tasks that everyone needs me to do on top of my own work. I am one person doing the jobs of 5 people. However, I love it, and I can't complain. Today is actually my daughter Imani's 12th birthday. I have been planning and prepping for her slumber party on Saturday. I will have 12 girls total at my house from 9:30am until 11:00am the next day. We will be doing a pamper day at the nail salon and then back to our house for games, treats, and fun times. Wish me luck :) My daughter is a Hello Kitty freak, so can you guess what the theme is? I plan on taking lots of photos, so stay tuned for an update and some cool recipes.
Here is a picture of Imani from 3 years ago. They grow so quick, so I have to cherish every moment.
Here is a picture of Imani from 3 years ago. They grow so quick, so I have to cherish every moment.
Pancackes
PANCACKES:
With the All Purpose baking mix recipe:
Ingredients:
2 C Baking Mix
1 C Milk
1 Tbsp. Vanilla Extract
2 Eggs
Mix all ingredient together until just blended. Do not overmix. Cook as usual!
**For fluffier pancackes add 1/3 c egg whites beaten until stiff or fluffly, fold into batter. Cook as usual.
With the All Purpose baking mix recipe:
Ingredients:
2 C Baking Mix
1 C Milk
1 Tbsp. Vanilla Extract
2 Eggs
Mix all ingredient together until just blended. Do not overmix. Cook as usual!
**For fluffier pancackes add 1/3 c egg whites beaten until stiff or fluffly, fold into batter. Cook as usual.
All Purpose Baking Mix
All Purpose Baking Mix:
6 C All purpose Flour
3 Tbsp Baking Powder (with no aluminum- Trader Joes is a good brandand cheap)
1 Tbsp Pink Himiliayan Sea Salt
1 1/4 C Shortening
Directions:
In a bowl combine all ingredients with a fork, or pastry cutter. If you have a food processor you can use that too! Comine until it resembles a cornmeal texture. Store in an airtight container. I use a large glass pickle jar.
6 C All purpose Flour
3 Tbsp Baking Powder (with no aluminum- Trader Joes is a good brandand cheap)
1 Tbsp Pink Himiliayan Sea Salt
1 1/4 C Shortening
Directions:
In a bowl combine all ingredients with a fork, or pastry cutter. If you have a food processor you can use that too! Comine until it resembles a cornmeal texture. Store in an airtight container. I use a large glass pickle jar.
Fajita Seasoning:
3 Tbsp. Cornstarch 2 Tbsp Chili Powder
1 Tbsp. Pink Himilayan Sea Salt 1 Tbsp Paprika
1 Tbsp Sugar (optional) 2 1/2 tsp Boullion (Beef or Chicken depending on meat you use)
1 1/2 tsp Onion Powder 1/2 tsp Garlic Powder
1/2 tsp Cayenne Pepper (optional) 1/4 tsp Crushed Red Pepper Flakes
1/2 tsp Cumin
Directions:
Combine all ingredients in a small bowl, shake until well combined. Store in a container tighly closed, in a cool dry place. Makes approximatley the equivalent of 3 Fajita Seasoning Packets.
Add to cooked meat with 1/2 - 3/4c water for each lb. of meat.
3 Tbsp. Cornstarch 2 Tbsp Chili Powder
1 Tbsp. Pink Himilayan Sea Salt 1 Tbsp Paprika
1 Tbsp Sugar (optional) 2 1/2 tsp Boullion (Beef or Chicken depending on meat you use)
1 1/2 tsp Onion Powder 1/2 tsp Garlic Powder
1/2 tsp Cayenne Pepper (optional) 1/4 tsp Crushed Red Pepper Flakes
1/2 tsp Cumin
Directions:
Combine all ingredients in a small bowl, shake until well combined. Store in a container tighly closed, in a cool dry place. Makes approximatley the equivalent of 3 Fajita Seasoning Packets.
Add to cooked meat with 1/2 - 3/4c water for each lb. of meat.
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Tuesday Afternoon's
So this morning started off wonderfully. I had a great morning walking with Vanessa, and my friend Kim. Walking and talking with the ladies have become a great way to start my days off, especially since the starting of the 17 day diet in mid December I've lost 22 lbs. I still have so much more weight to lose, but the journey to a healthier lifestyle has been an exciting adventure, and I cant believe I have got so many people joining me on my journey for the same goal. This is wonderful thing! Nothing ore exciting than a group of couples trying to achieve the same goals together, sharing our struggles, recipes, and down falls.
So today as I plan out my day and dinner recipes for the next few days I will share my Enchilada Sauce Recipe. I will never again buy sauce in the store. Its super easy to make and so much tastier.
Enchilada Sauce:
3/4 C. Chili Powder
3/4 C. Flour
1 Tbsp + 1 tsp Cocoa Powder
2 tsp Garlic Salt
1 Tbsp + 1 tsp Oregano
1 Tbsp + 1 tsp Cumin
12-13 C. Water
32 oz. Tomato Sauce
Directions:
Combine all the dry ingredients in a small bowl. Stirring ingredients well add enough water to make a thin paste. In a large pot of water, cover and boil. Add the thin paste, and heat on med. heat until mixture thickens.Add tomato sauce, reduce heat and simmer until mixture thickens, and flavors meld. (about 15 min.) Use in your favorite enchilada recipe.
So today as I plan out my day and dinner recipes for the next few days I will share my Enchilada Sauce Recipe. I will never again buy sauce in the store. Its super easy to make and so much tastier.
Enchilada Sauce:
3/4 C. Chili Powder
3/4 C. Flour
1 Tbsp + 1 tsp Cocoa Powder
2 tsp Garlic Salt
1 Tbsp + 1 tsp Oregano
1 Tbsp + 1 tsp Cumin
12-13 C. Water
32 oz. Tomato Sauce
Directions:
Combine all the dry ingredients in a small bowl. Stirring ingredients well add enough water to make a thin paste. In a large pot of water, cover and boil. Add the thin paste, and heat on med. heat until mixture thickens.Add tomato sauce, reduce heat and simmer until mixture thickens, and flavors meld. (about 15 min.) Use in your favorite enchilada recipe.
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Fabric Softner
Okay so its no secret that I make laundry soap. How many of you use fabric softner? Okay truth is most of us do. I must admit I have used anothers great idea for economizing and made it work for us! I love my clothes feeling soft and smelling oh so good, dont we all? Lets see now, how many loads do you typically get from a bottle of fabric softner, about 30 if your lucky. Honestly I would go through a bottle a week. There goes another $30-$35 a month.
I couldnt give up on the softner (I tried). So here Im gonna tell you a great way to get the most bang for your buck.
Things you will need:
2.5-3 gal bucket (or rubbermaid style box container, something sealable)
Favorite Fabric Softner (Use a NAME brand one, their thicker and will last longer for this recipe)
8-10 sponges cut in half
Pour contents of softner into clean bucket (all of it!)
Fill softner bottle with water 2x's and pour into bucket
Add sponges.
When you put your laundry in the dryer take a sponge squeeze out excess liquid toss in dryer, dry as usual. Once load is dry remove sponge and add to bucket for re-use.
You have made reusable dryer sheets, that will last for years!
This bucket of softner will last a long time.
My first experience making this I bought a Large container of softner from a club store, and followed this recipe, uuhhh yeah lasted 1 1/2 years. I kid you not. Now is that economizing or what?!
I couldnt give up on the softner (I tried). So here Im gonna tell you a great way to get the most bang for your buck.
Things you will need:
2.5-3 gal bucket (or rubbermaid style box container, something sealable)
Favorite Fabric Softner (Use a NAME brand one, their thicker and will last longer for this recipe)
8-10 sponges cut in half
Pour contents of softner into clean bucket (all of it!)
Fill softner bottle with water 2x's and pour into bucket
Add sponges.
When you put your laundry in the dryer take a sponge squeeze out excess liquid toss in dryer, dry as usual. Once load is dry remove sponge and add to bucket for re-use.
You have made reusable dryer sheets, that will last for years!
This bucket of softner will last a long time.
My first experience making this I bought a Large container of softner from a club store, and followed this recipe, uuhhh yeah lasted 1 1/2 years. I kid you not. Now is that economizing or what?!
Cutting costs in the home
Many of you out there are in the same position I have been in for the last few years now. The economy has taken a slice out of our regular spending habits, and we have had to economize, cut out luxuries, and stop eating out, and just plain figure out how we are gonna afford the necessities in life. Lets be honest now, many of you moms, dads, and caretakers may think your doing your best at cutting out costs. But until it hits you smack dab in the face, and you dont have two nickles to rub together, thats when you realize, "is there a better cheaper way without cutting on quality!". YES there is.... I've been doing it for almost 4 years now when my husband lost his job, and I was working part time, and his unemployment wasnt enough to pay rent. Thats pretty drastic when you have 4 kids, and you wonder how you will make it. Well I'm here to tell you it is all possible if you are willing to to try and give in to sceptcism.
One way of cutting a ridiculous cost in the home is to stop buying expensive laundry detergent! Yes, I said no more laundry detergent. Now I'm not suggesting give up washing clothes, or wearing clothes until they smell, but think about it how much a week do you spend on soap every week, or month? $10, $15, $30, $50 ???
What would you do with that extra $50 a month if you could save it? Use it on food? Pay a bill? Put it in savings? You could do a lot with that money over the course of a year. I personally spent over $50 a month on laundry products, thats a savings of $600 a year.
Okay, so now that I have your attention what do I do to wash my clothes. I make my own detergent. There are many people out there who do this. Its safe for those fancy HE machines, as well as the older models. Its economical, Phosphate free (and not a pricey as thos brands in the store), and works just as good as the expensive brands.
My first order of business is to teach you to start helping your familys budget by learning to make your products at home much cheaper than you can buy in the store.
Items you will need:
5 gal. bucket & lid (cleaned & dry)
1 laundry soap container (cleaned and dry)
1 Fels-Naptha bar (or an Ivory soap bar, or a non perfumed soap bar) Grated into smaller pieces for melting. The smaller the shavings the faster it will be.
1 C. Washing soda (not baking soda- I buy mine at Wal-mart in the laundry section on the bottom shelf)
1/2 C- 1C. Borax
1/4 C. Salt (table salt works fine****optional)
Non reactive pot for boiling water
long stick, broom handle (for stiring in the bucket, use whatever you have at home)
Bring 4-8 C. water to a boil in the pot.
Reduce heat to Med. heat.
Add soap and stir constantly until all soap is melted. (about 10-15min.)
Once melted turn off heat, remove from burner add salt (only if you have hard water). I only started doing this recently because my water is so hard.
Pour this pot of soap into the 5gal. bucket. Now add the Borax, and Washing Soda until completely dissolved. Fill the pot with hot tap waterand fill the bucket 1/2 way, stir, fill with hot water to top (leave enough head room for the lid). Stir again. Attach lid.
Now this is the hard part.... Wait!
Let the mixture Sit overnight and gel up. For it to gel up it must completely cool.
This 5 gal bucket of laundry soap actually makes 10 gal.
Add equal parts of newly made soap & water to container & shake to mix. Voila!
This soap can be scented by using 10-20 drops of essential oils to the laundry soap you are dispensing from. Be careful not to use anything other that essential oils as they can irritate you skin, and cause rashes.
HAPPY SOAP MAKING :)
One way of cutting a ridiculous cost in the home is to stop buying expensive laundry detergent! Yes, I said no more laundry detergent. Now I'm not suggesting give up washing clothes, or wearing clothes until they smell, but think about it how much a week do you spend on soap every week, or month? $10, $15, $30, $50 ???
What would you do with that extra $50 a month if you could save it? Use it on food? Pay a bill? Put it in savings? You could do a lot with that money over the course of a year. I personally spent over $50 a month on laundry products, thats a savings of $600 a year.
Okay, so now that I have your attention what do I do to wash my clothes. I make my own detergent. There are many people out there who do this. Its safe for those fancy HE machines, as well as the older models. Its economical, Phosphate free (and not a pricey as thos brands in the store), and works just as good as the expensive brands.
My first order of business is to teach you to start helping your familys budget by learning to make your products at home much cheaper than you can buy in the store.
Items you will need:
5 gal. bucket & lid (cleaned & dry)
1 laundry soap container (cleaned and dry)
1 Fels-Naptha bar (or an Ivory soap bar, or a non perfumed soap bar) Grated into smaller pieces for melting. The smaller the shavings the faster it will be.
1 C. Washing soda (not baking soda- I buy mine at Wal-mart in the laundry section on the bottom shelf)
1/2 C- 1C. Borax
1/4 C. Salt (table salt works fine****optional)
Non reactive pot for boiling water
long stick, broom handle (for stiring in the bucket, use whatever you have at home)
Bring 4-8 C. water to a boil in the pot.
Reduce heat to Med. heat.
Add soap and stir constantly until all soap is melted. (about 10-15min.)
Once melted turn off heat, remove from burner add salt (only if you have hard water). I only started doing this recently because my water is so hard.
Pour this pot of soap into the 5gal. bucket. Now add the Borax, and Washing Soda until completely dissolved. Fill the pot with hot tap waterand fill the bucket 1/2 way, stir, fill with hot water to top (leave enough head room for the lid). Stir again. Attach lid.
Now this is the hard part.... Wait!
Let the mixture Sit overnight and gel up. For it to gel up it must completely cool.
This 5 gal bucket of laundry soap actually makes 10 gal.
Add equal parts of newly made soap & water to container & shake to mix. Voila!
This soap can be scented by using 10-20 drops of essential oils to the laundry soap you are dispensing from. Be careful not to use anything other that essential oils as they can irritate you skin, and cause rashes.
HAPPY SOAP MAKING :)
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